Rahmell Pettway of Brooklyn, New York, was so afraid of his girlfriend's wrath after he was gone from home for two weeks that he staged his own kidnapping. He was found by a passer-by between two parked cars, tied up with duct tape. Police responded and sent Pettway to a hospital, but they had suspicions as the roll of duct tape was still attached to his wrists.

He initially “couldn’t recall” what had happened, but later told police two men in a light-blue minivan abducted him on Feb. 19 near Bainbridge Street and Reid Avenue.

He claimed his captors covered his eyes and hauled him to parts unknown before dumping him on Macon Street near Malcolm X Boulevard weeks later.

But authorities grew suspicious of his account, and Pettway soon confessed to the hoax, saying he had gone AWOL for a couple of weeks and was terrified of facing his significant other.

Police did not react kindly to the explanation.

“He’s a total moron,” said one law-enforcement source. “It was a pathetic attempt to pull the wool [over] her eyes.”